
Dyspepsia, the classic symptom of peptic ulcer disease, is defined as a pain centered in the upper abdomen or discomfort characterized by fullness, bloating, distention, or nausea. Symptoms may be chronic, recurrent, or of new onset. Dys-pepsia is a common clinical problem and may be seen in 25 % to 40% of adults. Only 15% to 25% of patients with dyspepsia are found to have a gastric or duodenal ulcer. Other causes of dyspepsia include gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric can-cer, and gastroparesis. Up to 60 % of patients have no definite diagnosis and are classified as having functional dyspepsia, a condition most likely related to an abnormal perception of events in the stomach caused by afferent visceral hypersensi. tivity.